Monk Fruit: A Healthy Alternative to Sugar

It’s okay to have a sweet tooth!

Conscious eaters are discovering that monk fruit is a healthy and delicious alternative to sugar. To find out how to savor the sweetness of your sauces in a smart new way, read on.

Time: 10 minutes

Many of us crave sweet tastes but, either for health and dietary reasons or those of personal choice, do not wish to consume too much sugar. In the past, this could make it hard to get the sweetness we loved. Now, with new and exciting sugar alternatives beginning to emerge, that’s starting to change. Of the new alternatives to sugar, one of the most interesting - and tastiest - is monk fruit. 

Monk fruit, otherwise known as the swingle fruit, is native to China. In that culture, it has been well known for centuries as an ingredient in traditional medicine, in which it’s used for everything from relieving cold symptoms to aiding digestion. It also has a well-deserved reputation for its power to sweeten foods and beverages. This has led to its increased popularity in the United States and elsewhere.

In-the-know food-lovers are always looking for smart sugar alternatives. And now that it’s being used in sauces from Kevin’s Natural Foods, monk fruit is very much on the map as a smart and sweet selection. 

Give Me That Sweet Stuff

As humans, we have always craved sweetness. Our ability to sweeten our food and drinks has enabled us to survive more effectively, with more pleasure and satisfaction. And as time has gone on, we have found that there are other ways to do it besides sugar.

Sugar may be delightfully sweet but it has its downsides. Consuming too much sugar can cause us to gain weight, increase our risks of diabetes and other chronic conditions, compromise our dental health, and more. These risks, along with curiosity and creativity, have inspired chefs, eaters, and companies such as Kevin’s Natural Foods to seek out safer alternatives that are just as enjoyable, if not more so.

In this category, monk fruit deserves special attention. 

Is Monk Fruit a Good Alternative to Sugar? Know the Pros and Cons

Monk fruit is a small, green gourd. It doesn’t do well in storage and is thus usually consumed in its dried form, whether as a palliative in traditional Chinese medicine or more recently as a sugar alternative added to foods and beverages. Monk fruit sweeteners are made from the fruit’s extract.

Monk fruit sweeteners are approximately 150 to 200 times sweeter than sugar, so if you use it as a sugar alternative, it’s important to know your proportions and not use too much. In the United States, it is classified as “genuinely recognized as safe” by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and, indeed, it does not pose the same health risks that sugar does. It’s safer for those who are mindful of their weight, as well as those on special diets, such as keto and paleo lifestyles.

On the downside, monk fruit is still relatively rare and expensive. Plus, the fact that it is so much sweeter than sugar can make it hard to get the portions right. Of course, this ceases to be an issue if you enjoy monk fruit in sauces from Kevin’s Natural Foods - we get everything right for you. 

Monk Fruit v. Stevia

Another well-known alternative to sugar is stevia, which has many of the same advantages as monk fruit. However, stevia is also associated with some unpleasant side effects, including nausea and gas, which monk fruit is not. This makes monk fruit a preferable alternative for many consumers, including those with dietary restrictions or who simply dislike the aftertaste associated with stevia. 

Monk Fruit: A Smart, Healthy Choice 

As it becomes easier to get useful information about the stuff we put in our bodies, many of us are becoming ever more aware of the effects that our small choices and reinforced eating habits can have in the long term. As we learn more about the issues with ingredients such as sugar, it leads us to get creative and consider exotic and interesting alternatives that are healthier. If they’re equally delicious - or even more so - that’s certainly a bonus!

From that perspective, the rising popularity of monk fruit is easy to understand. For those of us who delight in sweetness, it helps us to do while alleviating the stress, guilt, and unwanted health effects of sugar. It allows us to indulge freely in old favorites and appreciate them in new and interesting ways. 

Why We Use Monk Fruit

Monk fruit remains more rare and expensive than sugar, but the world is beginning to catch on. Curious connoisseurs and innovative cooks are already finding innovative, influential, and delightful uses for it.

 At Kevin’s Natural Foods, we use monk fruit as an alternative to sugar in our popular sauce creations. It’s a key part of the culinary magic behind our Keto, Paleo, and natural solution sauces.

In these times, it is essential that we treat ourselves well, which includes mindful, healthy eating. This can be a challenge if we don’t have much time to cook, much less track down special ingredients and smart alternatives to sugar, such as monk fruit.

At Kevin’s Natural Foods, we believe that food, like life, is meant to be enjoyed in all its richness. Just because it’s easy to make, it doesn’t need to be bland - it can be even more delicious. And with smart ingredients, we can feel better about eating it - physically and psychologically. We’re always on the lookout for new and better ways to serve the dishes you love most, while saving you the trouble of tracking down hard-to-find ingredients or following difficult recipes.

Using monk fruit as an alternative to sugar in our popular sauces is just one of the creative food solutions we’ve come up with. Try one of our delicious Keto, Paleo, or natural solutions entrees today, and be prepared to savor life’s sweetness in a whole new way that’s more interesting and satisfying while delivering all the flavor you expect. 

Try one of our creations and savor it for yourself!